Matthew Makes Second Final Of Year At Swedish Open

In a clear indication that his 2008 injuries woes are now truly behind him, Nick Matthew reached his second PSA Tour final of the year when he beat fellow Englishman James Willstrop, the second seed, in the semi-finals of the Case Swedish Open.

The third seed from Sheffield will face top seed Karim Darwish in the climax of the men's $60,000 PSA Tour 5-star squash event at the Sporthallen in Linköping, Sweden.

Matthew, out of action of much of last year after shoulder surgery in January, made last month's Tournament of Champions final in New York as tenth seed - again upsetting England team-mate Willstrop en-route.

In Linköping, Matthew took the first two games, but defending champion Wilstrop fought back to draw level before the No3 seed held his nerve to secure a dramatic 11-8, 11-2, 7-11, 3-11, 11-9 victory.

"It was such a great game, a long and tight match, with good sportsmanship from both, and probably one of the best spectator figures ever for squash here in Sweden," said tournament promoter Fredrik Johnson.

Darwish, the newly-installed world number one, ended the brave run of Egyptian compatriot Mohamed El Shorbagy, beating the 18-year-old eighth seed 11-3, 11-8, 11-9.

The final will mark a significant milestone for both players as Matthew and Darwish are both celebrating their 25th appearances in the climax of a PSA Tour championship!

The final of the women's Zack Swedish Open will also present an unexpected line-up after England's sixth seed Victoria Lust continued her good run to beat Olga Ertlova, of the Czech Republic, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7 in the semi-finals of the $6,000 WISPA World Tour championship.

The 19-year-old from Bedfordshire - in her third successive Tour final since December - will now face Line Hansen, the second seed from Denmark who beat Welsh opponent Deon Saffery 8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2.

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [8] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-3, 11-8, 11-9
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [2] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-8, 11-2, 7-11, 3-11, 11-9

Women's semi-finals:
[6] Victoria Lust (ENG) bt [8] Olga Ertlova (CZE) 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7
[2] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [3] Deon Saffery (WAL) 8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2